Gambia: Feeling Scary About The Future Of Our Politics

(JollofNews) – Pericles stated that a man who takes no interest in public affairs is not only harmless but is also a useless character. And by all indications, public affairs is Politics, regardless of whether it Politics with the small “p” or with the capital “P”. However, the mere mention of “Politics”is met with derision and scorn.

For most of us, Politics is a dirty game, a debasing business only scoundrels engage in, an exercise only for people who are “half educated”. In my neck of the woods, they say “politico mu mmaa koi nga baarakeh eeti” (politics is ‘help me to be more blessed than you’). Unfortunately, the behaviour of some politicians have gone to confirm the distaste of people against politics.

The current mindset regarding politics should change. We must disabuse the minds of people about “politics” as a “dirty game” and challenge and hold to account people whose sole aim of engaging in politics is to get rich quick or have influence to control the sources of power. We must make politics our business and make everyone know that politics affects every department of our lives, in private and public.

Interest in politics will begin with each and every adult becoming a paying or card carrying member of a political party. We are political animals, first and foremost, and must be interested in politics, that game which affects our lives in its totality. He or she who is not is, as Aristotle says, either a beast or God.

We should begin to regard party politics as very ‘serious business’ just like the stock market. You invest in it today and get your returns after a while, and not immediately. Unfortunately, we often become actively involved in the affairs of a party when we eye a position therein or want to be elected/selected/ nominated as candidate for the Parliament. And why should the party nominate us? What do you know about the political party? How active have you been in the local politics? How much do we know about the practical politics of that party, all the shenanigans and manoeuvring and negotiation and compromises that happen behind the scene and the influencers therein?

To encourage mass interest in politics would require that our political parties develop and strengthen their structures, from the village cell to the constituency cell to the district cell to the regional bureau to the national executive or politbureau. Development of grassroots politics encourages not only interest but also accountability at both the party and national levels. One must not become a member of the Executive council without going through the ranks. When one reached the top, then one is well prepared and poised to lead the party to greatness.

To the aspiring politician, one who eyes political office i say:

Join a political party and be very active in it. Take part in what it does. Participate in its meetings and rallies. Take the platform and mike and articulate the programmes and policies in the languages of the masses. Play a leadership, establish a name for yourself and carve a niche in the hearts of the party faithful.

If you are a student volunteer for a political party and help educate people about that party, what it stands for and its programmes and policies if elected to office. This would not only build your skills in organisation and public speaking but may serve as a political nurturing ground for you. Be interested in student politics. The best nursery or training ground for any politician is student politics ‘re student unions, councils and all.

Learn from the elders in the political party. Identify a mentor and let that person groom you. To be a politician takes a while process. You learn the art and with daily practice you perfect the skills. “Champions don’t become champions in the ring; they are merely recognised there” J.C. Maxwell

If you are interested in party politics, you cannot dissociate yourself from the realities of the people, from their concerns and aspirations. You must build your community or local base. “Go to the people, live with them, eat with them, work with them, learn from them and when you need their hands they will give you.” Connection is an important part in building human relationship and to win the support or votes of the people, one must not lose the common touch. “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” The heart must go before the hand.

When we become actively involved in party politics, when we see politics as all-affecting and intruding, when we become truly political animals, we will make our political parties stronger and truly democratic, our politicians transparent and accountable and ourselves worthy candidates for political offices.

6 thoughts on “Gambia: Feeling Scary About The Future Of Our Politics”

Pericles would be very proud of Africans, Mr. Drammeh. Just look at the ordinary people’s interest in politics across Africa – it, the interest that is, is massive.
BUT, I cannot avoid a did at my in-law: Drammeh would be Serahule? You guys are too busy making money to bother with politics! Correct me if I am wrong – I am a Luntango!

I agree with Mr. Drammeh’s thesis for the most part. Politics is what determines our access to basic needs, services, and freedoms. Gambians definitely need more political education and empowerment. Ordinary Gambians need to understand that our political leaders are our servants.
I however respectfully disagree that party politics is essential. One can be active in politics based on issues rather than party. Party politics encourages sycophancy and personality cult; look what has happened in America. One can vote and engage in vibrant, intelligent political debate without joining a party per se. I can vote for a Presidential candidate from one party and a National Assembly or municipal candidate from a different party. Party politics entrenches favoritism and cronyism, both bad for democracy.

Mariama Ashcroft, thank you for pointing out the “African virus” of the propensity toward Party Politics and Not just Party Politics, but Ethnic Group Purveyors of Party Politics. This is the Seed of Instability and Civil War. The leeches and vultures who benefit from such Divisive Party Politics are at it again in the Gambia. If they succeed, I fear, another 1981, or 1994 in the Making. The Seeds of both Unconstitutional Political Developments​ in the Gambia, Wrong or Right were brought about by the Naked, Unrestrained and Rapacious Corrupt and Corruptive Practices of an Essentially​ One Ethnic Group Party Politics that Held the Gambia in a Death Choke hold that Elections could not Mitigate. All Patriotic and Peace Loving Gambians should be Moved to Action, to Build a Brick or Concrete Wall Against a Pseudo Democratic Gambia as been Envisioned and Constructed but the UDP, ITS LEADERSHIP UNDER OUSAINOU DARBO AND MAI FATTY AND SUPPORTERS. Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One Individual, One Ethnic Group and Region. One Gambia, One People, One Destiny.

Sidi Bojang
Another false and dim witted prophecy from an unscrupulous and petty old man of the past. You tribalist bigot who is bound to destruction by the very hate you are filled with towards the Mandinkas. Mandinkas are the king makers of this land and is high time you understand that bigot.

“Until Gambians understand the constitution and institutions that govern every facet of their lives, until they are enlightened and empowered through effective political education to hold their leaders accountable, our country will be stuck in a never-ending cycle of ineffectual and docile governance, potential dictatorship and civil conflict that no amount of foreign intervention or foreign aid can stop.” This is a quote from an article by Baba Galleh Jallow titled “Towards Government for the People” published in The Point (March 16, 2017). I advise every well-intentioned Gambian to read it. More importantly, we need to heed his advice and recommendations on how to build a Gambian citizenry that is politically educated and empowered. Thank you Mr. Jallow!